Instagram Wins Appeal in ‘Layout’ Trademark Dispute

Instagram LLC has won an appeals court affirmation of its victory in a trademark dispute over the name “Layout” for a mobile photo manipulation app.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a federal trial court’s conclusion that the word “layout” was generic in the context of the case. App maker Michael Swanson, the owner of Juicy Bits Software, claimed trademark rights in the word based on the 2012 release of his Layout app.

The word “operated to identify what Swanson’s photo application was, as opposed to who offered it,” the appeals court said.

Judges Johnnie B. ...